We are pleased to announce the Ten Things You Should Know About Texas Energy. Each week for the remainder of the 83rd Legislative Session, we will send you a different fact about Texas Energy. As the session progresses, be on the look out for more updates and the rest of the facts!

TEN THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT TEXAS ENERGY

4. Texas Has No Megawatts to Spare

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which oversees 85% of Texas' total electricity load, predicts that by 2022, ERCOT will fall 8,290 megawatts (MW) short of the capacity reserve margin target that ERCOT advises is needed to maintain electric reliability. This is the equivalent of 7 nuclear plants, 14 coal plants, 64 gas plants, or 63,500+ wind turbines. If Texas experiences more economic growth than ERCOT predicts, it could lead to a 14,111 MW shortfall by 2022, which is the equivalent of 11 nuclear plants, 24 coal plants, 109 gas plants, or 108,000+ wind turbines.

Balanced Energy for Texas is a statewide coalition of energy consumers, producers, and providers committed to supporting policies that preserve and promote our state's leading role in energy and economic development.

We believe that energy is the backbone of Texas' economy and that economic prosperity is contingent upon the adoption of sensible policies that maximize the use of our state's abundant, diverse and affordable energy portfolio, specifically oil, natural gas and coal. This balanced portfolio, based on free market principles and a sound regulatory framework, is critical to Texas' continued profitability, competitiveness and economic success.